Word
徐行
Meaning in Englishgoing slowly
Animated kanji stroke order
Sentence
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Word context
What it means
徐行 means to go slowly; to move at a slow pace, especially by reducing speed in traffic or when caution is required.
Main meanings
- deliberate, controlled pace in safety-critical contexts, highlighting the need to reduce speed and proceed with care.
- figurative use for gradual, careful progression in tasks, projects, or negotiations, implying patience and caution.
- formal or regulatory register, commonly appearing in signs, safety manuals, and official documents rather than casual speech.
How to use it
徐行 is used primarily in formal, official, or traffic-related contexts to indicate reduced speed and cautious motion; it is commonly seen on road signs, safety manuals, and technical documentation, while in everyday conversation speakers typically use 減速する or ゆっくり進む.
Variants and close terms
- 減速 gen-soku – decelerate
- 慎重に進む shinchō ni susumu – proceed cautiously
- 急速に進む kyūsoku ni susumu – advance rapidly
Composition
- 徐: gradual, slow, delaying; conveys a request to ease the pace
- 行: to go, to move, to act
Etymology
じょこう is the on’yomi reading formed by combining 徐(じょ) and 行(こう); the pronunciation follows standard Sino-Japanese compounding patterns rather than native readings.
Word class
noun (名詞); can function as a standalone noun or appear in the suru-verb form 徐行する
Word
Related words by kanji and components
N1
行為
koui
act, deed, conduct
N1
行進
koushin
march, parade
N1
現行
genkou
present, current, in operation
N1
行い
okonai
conduct, behavior, action
N1
強行
kyoukou
forcing, enforcement
N1
行政
gyousei
administration
N1
施行
shikou
enforcement, operation
N1
行き違い
ikichigai
misunderstanding, disagreement
N1
移行
ikou
switching over to
Kanji